House debates
Monday, 8 February 2010
- Privilege (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I rise to advise the House of a possible breach of privilege. Last Thursday, 4 February, the Public Works Committee held a private meeting with officials of the Department of Defence...
- Main Committee (0 speeches)
- Private Members’ Motions (1 speech)
In accordance with standing order 41(h), and the recommendations of the whips adopted by the House on 3 February 2010, I present copies of the terms of motions for which notice has been given by...
- Health Insurance Amendment (New Zealand Overseas Trained Doctors) Bill 2009; Higher Education Support Amendment Bill 2009; Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill 2009; Statute Law Revision Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Returned from the Senate (0 speeches)
Message received from the Senate returning the bills without amendment or request.
- Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill received from the Senate and read a first time. Ordered that the second reading be made an order of the day for the next sitting.
- Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Re-Registration of Providers and Other Measures) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2010; Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges — Customs) Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges — Excise) Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges — General) Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS Fuel Credits) Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS Fuel Credits) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2010; Excise Tariff Amendment (Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme) Bill 2010; Customs Tariff Amendment (Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme) Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Amendment (Household Assistance) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (12 speeches)
Debate resumed from 4 February, on motion by Mr Combet: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I table for the information of the House a revised ministry list reflecting a change to the ministry following the resignation of the Hon. Duncan Kerr SC, MP as the Parliamentary Secretary for...
- Shadow Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I table the coalition shadow ministry arrangements. The document read as follows— COALITION SHADOW MINISTRY 2 February 2010 TITLE SHADOW MINISTER OTHER CHAMBER Leader of the...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Emissions Trading Scheme (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that, on the government’s own figures, a family with three children under 12 where one parent works as a correctional...
- Nation Building and Jobs Plan (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister please update the House on recent information relating to the impact of the stimulus provided by the Nation Building and Jobs Plan on...
- Emissions Trading Scheme (17 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation and Minister for Competition Policy and...
- Migration (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the Minister for Social Inclusion. Deputy Prime Minster, how will the announced changes to...
- Emissions Trading Scheme (12 speeches)
I ask the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs to confirm that a maritime worker on over $125,000 whose wife is a stay-at-home mum looking after two dependent...
- Economy (11 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on the closure of the bank guarantee?
- Asylum Seekers (7 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I note that, since August 2008, 79 boats have arrived illegally in Australian waters carrying 3,618 passengers, including 11 boats carrying 647 passengers...
- Economy (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation. Minister, why is rigorous analysis and attention to detail crucial in economic and fiscal management, and what are the consequences if...
- Hospitals (24 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his 2007 promise to fix public hospitals by 30 June last year or, if he did not, to take them over from the states. Why has...
- Superannuation (2 speeches)
My question is the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his statement on radio 4BC just 12 days before the last election, when he said: There will be no change to the superannuation...
- Infrastructure (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Why is investment in infrastructure critical to Australia’s economic growth and...
- Workplace Relations (8 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his statement to this parliament on 20 August 2008, when he said: No working families in this country will be worse off as a...
- Prime Minister (0 speeches)
- Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders (7 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion of censure against the Prime Minister. Leave not granted. I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for...
- Workplace Relations (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Mr Speaker, with your indulgence I wish briefly to correct the record. In my last question to the Prime Minister I referred to a statement on 20 August 2008. I should have said 20 March 2008. I...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (13 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Economy (2 speeches)
by leave—I make a ministerial statement relating to the exit from the government’s guarantee of large deposits and wholesale funding. On several occasions now since this government...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I seek to make a personal explanation.
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Burma (2 speeches)
by leave—I wish to update the House on developments in Burma. On 4 January, Burma’s Independence Day, Burmese Senior General Than Shwe announced that plans were under way to conduct...
- Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2010; Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges — Customs) Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges — Excise) Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges — General) Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS Fuel Credits) Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS Fuel Credits) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2010; Excise Tariff Amendment (Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme) Bill 2010; Customs Tariff Amendment (Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme) Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Amendment (Household Assistance) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Petitions, and in accordance with standing order 207, I present the following petitions:
- Responses (1 speech)
Ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House have been received as follows:
- Responses; Medicare Cataract Surgery Rebate (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 29 October 2009 regarding the petition submitted by the citizens of Western Australia against the 50% reduction to the Medicare rebate for cataract...
- Responses; Military Justice (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 22 October 2009 concerning a petition submitted to the Standing Committee on Petitions on Australia’s military justice system. The petition draws...
- Responses; Indigenous Languages (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 3 September 2009 concerning the recently submitted petition regarding Indigenous languages in Australia. I am pleased to report that a National...
- Responses; Trail and Monkey Bikes (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 12 August 2009 regarding a petition presented by Mr Nick Champion MP concerning the import and sale of monkey bikes (miniature motorcycles). Several...
- Responses; Burma (0 speeches)
Dear Ms Irwin Thank you for your letter dated 19 August 2009 about a petition from the Burma Campaign Australia submitted to the Standing Committee on Petitions. The Government is gravely...
- Responses; National Marriage Day (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin I refer to your letter dated 17 September 2009 seeking a written response to a petition submitted to your Committee requesting that 13 August each year be declared as National...
- Responses; Postnatal Depression (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 22 October 2009 regarding the petition on postnatal depression. The Australian Government and state and territory governments are working together to...
- Responses; Traveston Crossing Dam (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 17 September 2009 concerning the submission of a petition regarding the Traveston Crossing Dam. The Australian Government’s responsibilities...
- Responses; Parallel Import Restrictions on Books (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin I refer to your letter dated 22 October 2009, attaching the petition submitted to your Committee, signed by 2,097 concerned Australians, regarding the review by the Productivity...
- Responses; Aircraft Noise: Sutherland Shire (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter dated 22 October 2009 enclosing a petition from residents of Kareela about aircraft noise in the Sutherland Shire area. Upon receipt of your letter, I...
- Responses; Timor-Leste Australian Honour (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 17 September 2009 to the Prime Minister regarding a petition, submitted to the Standing Committee on Petitions, for the nation of East Timor to receive...
- Responses; Pharmaceutical Benefits (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 29 October 2009 regarding a petition submitted for consideration of the Standing Committee on Petitions by the New South Wales community of Wattle...
- Responses; Air Traffic Noise: Beechboro (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you tor your letter dated 29 October 2009 enclosing a petition from residents of Beechboro about aircraft noise over Beechboro. Upon receipt of your letter, I requested...
- Responses; Human Rights: Falun Gong (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 29 October 2009 referring a petition submitted for the consideration of the Standing Committee on Petitions regarding the persecution of Falun Gong...
- Responses; Hunting (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 26 November 2009, under reference 232/398, concerning a petition to end recreational hunting on public lands and reserves. The state and territory...
- Responses; Lymphoedema (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 29 October 2009 regarding the treatment of lymphoedema. The petition that you refer to asks that lymphoedema be recognised as a chronic medical...
- Responses; Granite Belt Orchards (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 25 November 2009 referring me to a petition on protecting Queensland fruit orchards from flying foxes which had been lodged with your committee. The...
- Responses; Marriage (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin I refer to your letters dated 19 and 26 November 2009 seeking a written response to petitions submitted to your Committee on 16 and 23 November 2009 requesting that the Marriage...
- Responses; Youth Homelessness (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 19 November 2009 to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, about the petition...
- Responses; Outback Australian Technical College (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 19 November 2009 on behalf of the Standing Committee on Petitions, concerning the petition regarding funding for the Australian Technical Colleges. The...
- Responses; Administration of Justice (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin I refer to your letter dated 26 November 2009 attaching three petitions relating to the Family Court submitted to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Petitions. The...
- Responses; Airport Noise (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter dated 19 November 2009 enclosing the petition about flight path activity at Sydney Airport presented to the House of Representatives by the Member for...
- Responses; McMillan Electorate: Moe Infrastructure (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter dated 26 November 2009 about a petition submitted regarding the relocation of the Moe Library and Latrobe Council Services Centre. Funding of $2 million...
- Responses; National Rental Affordability Scheme (1 speech)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 26 November 2009 to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, concerning a petition...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Abbott.
- Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
- Sexualisation of Girls in the Media (9 speeches)
I move: That the House:(1)notes with concern the increasing sexualisation and objectification of girls in mainstream media;(2)recognises that both media and peer influences contribute to the...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 9.30 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
- Mobile Phone Services (1 speech)
Widgee is a community of fewer than 700 people located 24 kilometres west of Gympie in my electorate. Widgee does not have mobile phone coverage and, in spite of its relatively small population,...
- Victorian Bushfires (1 speech)
It was just one year ago that I joined with my colleagues from all sides of the parliament in supporting a condolence motion in relation to the devastating Black Saturday bushfires. These fires...
- Green Loans Program (1 speech)
Children around the land for the last decade have been taught that the great future in jobs is green jobs. We have seen Prime Minister Howard’s Green Corps; we have seen Tony Abbott’s...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
Mr Speaker, I am sure that you, like me and a lot of other members of this House, received a lot of emails starting last year about Lord Monckton and his views on climate change. I am speaking...
- Mission Australia’s 34th Christmas Lunch in the Park (1 speech)
On a brighter note: Christmas lunch in 2009 was an experience for me and many others in Perth that I will raise today and I will never forget. In our second week back in parliament, I hope that...
- Modbury Hospital (1 speech)
On 20 March there will be a state election in South Australia, and once again Modbury Hospital is being used as a political football by the Liberal Party in South Australia. Yesterday, in an...
- Adelaide Sporting Events (2 speeches)
I would like to speak about two recent sporting events in Adelaide that I have been pleased to attend. Firstly, there was the Brighton Jetty Classic open water swim. I was pleased to attend that...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Green Loans Program (1 speech)
I take this short opportunity today to bring to the attention of the House contact with some of my constituents in relation to the Green Loans Program. I quote from a letter from Warren Lane:...
- Flynn Electorate: Mr Edgar Thomas Towner (1 speech)
The electorate of Flynn is one of the most diverse electorates in Australia. I am proud to be its first ever federal member and proud to represent it and its people. The electorate covers some...
- Flinders Electorate: Baxter; Green Loans Program (1 speech)
I wish to raise two matters of concern to my constituents. The first is in relation to a plan to cut the town of Baxter in half, and the second is an issue that has been raised in this House...
- Blair Electorate: St Brigid’s Church (1 speech)
St Brigid’s Catholic Church in Rosewood in the electorate of Blair is one of Ipswich’s icons. It is a much-visited tourist attraction and on the heritage trail. For over 100 years...
- Swan Electorate: Australia Day (1 speech)
Nearly two weeks ago, we celebrated Australia Day in my electorate. Australia Day is an important day for my constituents. Many of them turn out to local council events to celebrate the day and...
- Lowe Electorate: Australia Day (1 speech)
On Australia Day this year I had the pleasure of attending several Australia Day ceremonies in my electorate of Lowe hosted by the local councils. Sydney turned on a beautiful sunny day to...
- Cowan Electorate: World Wetlands Day (1 speech)
World Wetlands Day is celebrated in February each year, and last Saturday, 6 February, I attended the revegetation planting event on the banks of Lake Goollelal for World Wetlands Day. This event...
- Newcastle Electorate: Community Work (1 speech)
I rise today to commend some of the great community work that has taken place over the last few months in the rejuvenation of the Newcastle CBD and, in particular, the Hunter Street Mall. Over...
- Special Disability Trusts (1 speech)
I wish to raise the very important issue of special disability trusts. A constituent of mine, Ray Walter, has a disabled son for whom he and his wife are trying to establish a trust to ensure...
- Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (2 speeches)
At the time of Steve Irwin’s death in 2005 he was one of the most recognised and respected Australian faces here in Australia and even more so right around the world. Former Prime Minister...
- Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2009-2010; Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2009-2010 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (14 speeches)
Debate resumed from 4 February, on motion by Dr Emerson: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Mr Don Murphy (1 speech)
Tonight I want to pay tribute to Don Murphy, a very special man from my electorate. Don died on 29 January 2010 at the age of 67 after a two-year battle with cancer, which I understand he fought...
- Dr Patricia Giles AM (1 speech)
I wish tonight to speak about an incredible Australian woman, former Senator Pat Giles, whose contribution to public life was acknowledged in the Australia Day honours list last month when she...
- Canning Electorate: Pinjarra Pool (1 speech)
Last week a collective sigh of relief went through Pinjarra. The long-awaited Pinjarra pool finally got underway after 17 years of planning. Residents have suffered through another steamy, hot...
- Lindsay Electorate: Australia Day (1 speech)
I rise to acknowledge the Penrith City Australia Day award recipients for 2010: Aaron Nielsen, Rodney Jacka, Allan Bond and Gabrielle Moran. This year’s Young Citizen of the Year award went...
- Cowan Electorate: Wanneroo Little Athletics Club (1 speech)
I previously spoke of the value that little athletics provides to young people in the electorate of Cowan. I have a great regard for the parents who volunteer so strongly to keep the clubs going....
- Blair Electorate: Somerset Regional Council (1 speech)
Last week I outlined for the people of the Somerset regional area the BER funding of $20.8 million. The Somerset Regional Council area has been added to the federal seat of Blair in the recent...
- Schools (1 speech)
I rise to raise my concerns in relation to the government’s much hyped My School website. This government seems to think the answer to every problem is a new website. We have had Fuelwatch,...
- Member for Robertson (1 speech)
Belinda Neal is an intelligent, capable woman who actively represents her electorate and has many friends in this House. I appeal to the fair members of the press gallery not to join in what...
- Murray-Darling Basin (1 speech)
It is difficult to follow that, although I am not sure I disagree given the column in today’s Australian from Mr Milne. I rise to again speak in this place on the Murray-Darling Basin and...
- Clermont Kindergarten and Day Care Centre (1 speech)
On the weekend I was privileged to attend the opening celebrations to mark the expansion of the Clermont Kindergarten and Day Care Centre. The new pre-prep building and playground increases the...
- Mr Barry ‘Doc’ McKenzie (2 speeches)
Last Monday my home town of Lakes Entrance lost a local legend with the passing of Barry ‘Doc’ McKenzie. I would like to pay my respects to a great father, a great friend, a great...
- Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
- National Archives of Australia (11 speeches)
Debate resumed, on motion by Mr Briggs: That the House:(1)notes that:(a)archives are an important source of primary information for researchers, school students and the general public; and(b)the...
- Haiti (7 speeches)
Debate resumed, on motion by Ms Parke: That the House:(1)expresses its:(a)deep sympathy for the people of Haiti following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck on 12 January 2010 causing...
- Kimberley: Heritage Listing (6 speeches)
Debate resumed, on motion by Mr Haase: That the House:(1)recognises that:(a)the proposal to heritage list 17 million hectares of the Kimberley will deter mining companies from investing in the...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Debate resumed from 1 February.
- Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (1 speech)
In January, I had a conversation with an education assistant who works with special needs children in a school in my electorate of Cowan. Amongst other matters she told me about her thoughts on...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
As the member for Dawson I am passionate about delivering for Dawson. I believe the commitments that have been given to the people who elected me have been delivered and delivered well. As part...
- Environment (1 speech)
It is good to hear the member for Dawson talking about saving the environment. The electorate I represent is named after the Swan River. However, there is a problem with the Swan River: it is...
- Shortland Electorate: 2010 Shortland Awards (1 speech)
Tonight, I would like to put on record the contributions to the Shortland community that have been made by some really outstanding people. A large number of these people have given their time...
- Paterson Electorate: Fuel Costs (1 speech)
I rise today to raise a grievance on behalf of those people who live in and drive through the Paterson electorate. They are people who rely on affordable fuel—people like working families,...
- Hasluck Electorate: Swan District Hospital (2 speeches)
There are few things more important to communities than healthcare services, especially their local hospital. The north-eastern suburbs of Perth and surrounding wheat belt have been well served...
